Levantamento sobre práticas de produção e utilização de silagem em fazendas leiteiras na região sudeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The southeastern region of Rio Grande do Sul is characterized by small rural properties, mostly belonging to family farming, where milk production plays a fundamental socioeconomic role. In this activity, the use of silage stands out as a strategy to maintain herd productivity, especially during periods of forage shortage. Corn silage is the main conserved forage used due to its high yield and nutritional quality, making it essential in the increasingly adopted intensive production systems in the region. Despite the importance of this resource, there is a notable lack of data on the practices used in the production and utilization of silage in the region, which compromises the efficiency and quality of the forage produced. Based on the responses regarding average daily milk production, four groups were formed, as follow: 1) farms producing less than 100 L/d, 2) between 100 and 250 L/d, 3) between 250 and 500 L/d, and 4) > 500 L/d. In cases wherein there was at least 5 responses from each group, the data were statistically analyzed to correlate the adopted practices with different levels of milk production. No farms with a daily milk production below 100 L use no-tillage planting (P = 0.046). In contrast, 36.4% of the farms producing more than 500 L/day adopt no-tillage. Farms with higher milk production use more winter forages (cool-season C3 plants) for silage production (P < 0.001). Most (77.7%) of the forage harvesters do not have a "cracker," a device that improves grain processing and starch digestibility. Stack silos were more commonly used by farms with higher milk production (P = 0.032), possibly due to lower costs and ease of use. There was a clear shift from black plastic film to black-and-white film as milk production increased (P < 0.01). Farms with higher milk production use more bacterial inoculants to ensure good silage fermentation (P = 0.006). Small producers see inoculants as an additional cost rather than an investment. Dairy farms in southeastern RS are predominantly of small-scale and family-run, with corn being the main forage used for silage production, but generally associated with poor management practices. Higher daily milk producers adopt better practices such as no-tillage systems, use of winter forages, and determine the chemical composition of silage for better control of quality. There is a significant need for technical assistance to improve silage production and, consequently, dairy efficiency and productivity in the region.